So you may know by now I have a book obsession. I cannot stop buying them, especially if they are in written Cantonese and Jyutping. Well, Hambaanglaang’s graded readers promise all that plus more! I bought 15 readers (out of a total of 40) across 4 levels from their store in Hong Kong to see if they are worth the fuss.
Book Features
The books contain children’s stories in English, written Cantonese, Jyutping, and Standard Chinese (located as one text in the back). To top that off, the readers are also provided in audiobook form, accessed through a QR code in the cover of each book.
They are graded using the CEFR levels for the English text and by word frequency for the Cantonese text, making them a perfect learning tool for parents and children alike.
The readers also use Hambaanglaang’s unique graphical Jyutping script. The tone of each word is mapped across the page so a reader can literally see how the pitch of their voice should change as they read aloud. This took me a little while to get used to but once I did, I find I can read Jyutping quicker and more intuitively.
Underneath each romanised word and character in written Chinese is the character’s meaning in English (in addition to the native English text). This is incredibly helpful for non-Cantonese speakers to see the grammatical workings of a sentence.
Despite each page being jam-packed with all this information, the pages are colourful enough to keep AJ engaged. He’s listened to me read several readers today, which I think is pretty impressive for a 6 month old!
Pros
- Having the story in multiple scripts means the books are accessible to a diverse range of people with different learning goals
- The option of an audiobook can help non-native parents feel more confident with their pronunciation and means children can enjoyed being read to without their parent present.
- Their unique Jyutping script makes reading smoother and more intuitive. I believe this is a fantastic device for learners of all ages.
- As the books are graded, it’s easier to identify if a book is at the right level for your little one. As a learner yourself, it can be harder for a parent to identify if a book they buy is accessible than it would be for English books.
- The readers themselves are high-quality and study paperbacks. They are nicely laid out and just pleasant to look at.
- The stories feature diverse characters and usually have wholesome messages orientated around being kind, helpful, and the importance of family.
Cons
- Shipping is costly from Hong Kong. I have seen some stockists in the US who have these readers so it’s worth hunting around. I couldn’t find any in the UK when I looked so I just had to bite the bullet and pay for shipping. Despite the long journey, the shipping process was smooth, well-communicated, and surprisingly fast! (UPDATE: I have since discovered that Minute Book Store stocks all the readers and is in the UK!)
- The books that contain two different stories (they use the same images but the Cantonese story will differ from the English) may be confusing for children of parents using the OPOL method (one parent, one language).
- Some of the stories are a little dull, especially when the translations don’t match the original story. I understand the translators are limited in which words they can use to keep within the required levels and word frequencies.
- The pages are understandably very full of text. This isn’t inconvenient for parents reading but may discourage children from reading the books, especially if they have dyslexia or a similar learning difference.
- I like the idea of the cultural notes featured in some stories- they give an insight into life in Hong Kong. However, they are not written in English so are inaccessible unless you have a native Cantonese reader in the house, which we don’t.
Alternative
If shipping costs are too high for you or you would like to read some of the stories before you buy, you can check out Hambaanglaang’s YouTube channel that contains a wealth of stories in their graphical Jyutping script. They also offer accompanying pdfs on their website so if you have a printer then you can access the stories in a printed form (though they are in a more basic format to the graded readers.)
I find their videos are good to have on in the background while I’m with AJ at home but they are read a little bit to slow to keep AJ’s attention, especially as their are no animations. Though I guess it’s a positive thing that he is being exposed to Cantonese audio while staying away from screens!
Overall, I’m happy with my purchase because I know they will be useful for my personal language learning journey as an adult as well as a great educational tool for AJ. Plus, anything that encourages more story time in Cantonese is priceless to me.
Mama Bear Cantonese 